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Author Topic: Feeding new package, questions  (Read 3464 times)

Offline Inquorate

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Feeding new package, questions
« on: September 30, 2013, 03:52:19 am »
Is it best to feed a new package with store-bought honey in a vacuum feeder or 1:1 sugar:water?
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." - George Bernard Shaw

Offline Inquorate

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Re: Feeding new package, questions
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2013, 06:14:01 am »
Does feeding bees processed honey give them dysentry? Surely even processed honey would be better than sugar though, so if there are no great ill effects it has to be beneficial?
Here in Australia, we don't have much corn syrup (bees store it but will starve) added to our honey, so I'm not too worried about that.
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." - George Bernard Shaw

Offline Inquorate

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Re: Feeding new package, questions
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2013, 07:21:09 am »
Is there any benefit to providing pollen substitutes like soy flour?

That's all, I'm questioned out.
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." - George Bernard Shaw

Offline prestonpaul

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Re: Feeding new package, questions
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2013, 10:46:19 am »
Feeding honey back to bees is illegal in Australia unless it has been irradiated, you risk passing foul brood and other diseases on to your bees.
Stick to sugar syrup.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Feeding new package, questions
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2013, 12:41:41 pm »
Never feed your bees honey that your bees did not produce. Store bought honey is normally honey that has been mixed from honey removed from hundreds of hives, many of which are constantly being treated for AFB. The chances of it getting AFB in your hive goes up exponentially from store bought honey. All it takes is one of those hives to infect your hives. Treatment does not remove AFB, it just keeps it under control.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
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Offline Inquorate

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Re: Feeding new package, questions
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2013, 07:17:17 pm »
Thanks guys :-)
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." - George Bernard Shaw

Offline yantabulla

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Re: Feeding new package, questions
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2013, 06:57:20 am »
Never feed bees honey.  You are doomed to fail.  It spreads AFB.  Never.  Never.  Never.

Offline moggillhoney

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Re: Feeding new package, questions
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2013, 07:21:56 am »
You shouldn't need to feed bees this time of year, but if you are feeding them, only return clean product to them, make you own syrup & pollen subs. Don't feed any bee product back to them, it is to risky to catch disease,

cheers
Honeybees are one of science's great mysteries because they have remained unchanged for 20 million years, even though the world changed around them.

Offline Inquorate

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Re: Feeding new package, questions
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2013, 07:29:37 pm »
All good now, they've got their own honey flow going so I've taken the sugar-water away. Tnx for the advice peeps :-)
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." - George Bernard Shaw